The Effects of Natural Suspended Solids on Copper Toxicity to the Cardinal Tetra in Amazonian River Waters

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to characterize the effects of particles on metal aquatic toxicity in a tropical system. To this end, we investigated the effects of natural suspended solids on copper (Cu) geochemistry and acute toxicity to the cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi), in 2 Amazonian rivers with different total suspended solids (TSS) levels: the Rio Negro (low TSS ~ 8 mg L–1) and the Rio Solimões (high TSS ~ 70 mg L–1). The effect of particles on Cu aqueous geochemistry was assessed by measuring total, dissolved, and free ionic Cu concentrations in filtered (<0.45 μm) and unfiltered waters. Furthermore, acute Cu toxicity to fish was assessed in both filtered and unfiltered waters, by measuring physiological net fluxes of Na+, Cl–, K+, and total ammonia (in both river waters) and 96-h fish mortality (in Rio Solimões only). The particles in the Rio Negro were not abundant enough to play a significant role in our study. On the other hand, the Rio Solimões particles bound approximately 70% of total aqueous Cu in our tests. In agreement with bioavailability-based models, this decrease in dissolved (and free ionic) Cu concentration decreased Cu lethality in the 96-h toxicity tests. In the physiological measurements, the best evidence of particle protection was the total alleviation of Cu-induced Cl– losses. These flux tests also suggested that the particles themselves may negatively affect Na+ balance in the fish. Overall, the present study supports the use of bioavailability concepts to account for the role of natural suspended solids on metal biological effects in the Amazon River basin. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:2708–2718. © 2019 SETAC. © 2019 SETAC